Virtual cathode microwave generator having annular anode slit

Patent · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:866525

Kwan, Thomas J. T. ^[1]; Snell, Charles M ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos, NM

A microwave generator is provided for generating microwaves substantially from virtual cathode oscillation. Electrons are emitted from a cathode and accelerated to an anode which is spaced apart from the cathode. The anode has an annular slit therethrough effective to form the virtual cathode. The anode is at least one range thickness relative to electrons reflecting from the virtual cathode. A magnet is provided to produce an optimum magnetic field having the field strength effective to form an annular beam from the emitted electrons in substantial alignment with the annular anode slit. The magnetic field, however, does permit the reflected electrons to axially diverge from the annular beam. The reflected electrons are absorbed by the anode in returning to the real cathode, such that substantially no reflexing electrons occur. The resulting microwaves are produced with a single dominant mode and are substantially monochromatic relative to conventional virtual cathode microwave generators.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4730170
• OSTI ID: 866525
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/331/315/
absorbed
accelerated
alignment
annular
annular anode
anode
apart
axially
beam
cathode
conventional
diverge
dominant
effective
electrons
emitted
emitted electrons
field
field strength
form
generating
generator
generators
magnet
magnetic
magnetic field
microwave
microwave generator
microwaves
mode
monochromatic
occur
optimum
optimum magnetic
oscillation
permit
produce
produced
provided
range
reflected
reflecting
reflexing
relative
resulting
returning
single
slit
spaced
spaced apart
strength
substantial
substantially
substantially monochromatic
therethrough
thickness
virtual
virtual cathode
wave generator